وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ 63
Translations
And [recall] when We took your covenant, [O Children of Israel, to abide by the Torah] and We raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous."
Transliteration
Wa-idh akhdhana meethaaqakum wa-rafa'na fawqakumu at-toori khudhu ma atayna-kum bi-quwwatin wadhkuru ma feehi la'allakum tattaqoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's covenant with the Israelites at Mount Tur (Sinai), where He raised the mountain above them and commanded them to take the Torah with strength and remember its commandments to attain taqwa (God-consciousness). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret the raising of the mountain as a metaphorical emphasis of the gravity of the covenant, while others note it may indicate a literal elevation of the mountain as a sign of divine power. The phrase 'bi-quwwatin' (with strength) emphasizes the need for firm commitment and active practice of divine guidance, not merely passive reception.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of the Israelites' history and their covenant with Allah. It appears in a section (2:63-66) that recounts their breaking of covenants and subsequent punishment, serving as a reminder to the Muslim community about the importance of honoring divine covenants and the consequences of violating them.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13). While not directly about this ayah, it relates to the concept of implementing divine guidance with full commitment. Another relevant hadith: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), emphasizing active engagement with divine revelation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Receiving divine guidance is not enough; believers must embrace it with genuine strength, conviction, and consistent practice to cultivate taqwa and avoid the fate of those who abandoned their covenants. This ayah challenges us to examine whether we are passively aware of Islamic teachings or actively implementing them in our daily lives with courage and dedication.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّى فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds [i.e., peoples].
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِى حَآجَّ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ فِى رَبِّهِۦٓ أَنْ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّىَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا۠ أُحْىِۦ وَأُمِيتُ ۖ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْتِى بِٱلشَّمْسِ مِنَ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ ٱلْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَرَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord [merely] because Allāh had given him kingship? When Abraham said, "My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death," he said, "I give life and cause death." Abraham said, "Indeed, Allāh brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west." So the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ نَزَّلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَفِى شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
That is [deserved by them] because Allāh has sent down the Book in truth. And indeed, those who differ over the Book are in extreme dissension.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allāh and the Last Day," but they are not believers.